State Specific Question About: OHIO (OH)

Hi Joseph..

Rights.. being the owner, you have the 'rights' to the property as OH law says you do...

Now what may be you're possabilty to live there, may have nothing to do with the son.. you speak of..

Best choice to not be penny wise and pound foolish.. consult an lawyer for LL in your county..

Be careful with that R word. Plenty of people can live OK being disabled.

Targeting based on 2 or 3 protected classes is a good way to get sued with a discrimination lawsuit.

A better way to decide is...

1. Find out which tenant created the least troubles, left the place in the best condition and paid regularly and not renew the lease with the other one.

Or

2. Take a look at both places and determine which one you want to live in based on features, and amenities and not renew that tenant's lease.

Be sure to ask the neighbors living around your complex too. They know your future tenants better than anyone.

Joseph,

I'd start with a good ESTOPPEL letter signed by each resident BEFORE buying. That might give you some insight.

And a copy of each lease, if one exists.

Once I own the property I want a fresh APPLICATION for each and screen them as if brand new. Again, more insight.

without sounding harsh, know that SSI or disability checks are not garnishable. If they are not working and living off the son's check you will probably not be able to get any money if they fall behind.

Also consider raising the rents.

If they are on month to month you can probably give them that increment, 30 days, advance notice to raise rents or ask them to vacate. A buy out as Vee suggested softens the blow. It's not really an eviction until they refuse to leave and you need the court's help.

And NEVER present yourself as the OWNER, always the MANAGER, especially when living in the same building!

BRAD

Yeah I'm a little confused as to why you are bringing up the son's disability unless of course (hopefully) it just happens to be that they are living in the apartment/side that YOU have chosen to live there.

As long as that IS the fact (and not something that is discriminatory towards that tenant) then I would certainly go of the other opinions above that if you haven't already, look at each TENANT, their payment (on-time, amount, etc) as well as find out if anyone has any issues/concerns about each one (not about the disability - but about their character, how they act and such with others). BOTH sides. NOT just one.

You may find out that the tenants you are looking to take their apartment over may be the ones that you want to keep and should offer them the other side. Maybe not.

You could always try asking the owner to get whoever is in the side that you wish to occupy out before the sale closes. That keeps you out of the messy business of getting the unit vacated.

But I agree that if the units are equally appealing, you should determine which tenant(s) are least desireable, and it may come down to ability to collect if they don't pay rent, as Brad 20,000 noted above.